We have one more session, a few more overdubs and a vocal patch or two so we are still on target for copies to be available at my free Basement Show, August 15th, 5:30-7:30. The official CD release date is August 20, my 80th birthday. I am trying to find out if this makes me the oldest person in the U.S. to put out a debut album. The global leader, per Guinness, is England’s Colin Thackery, who was 89.
I’ll be doing a free show this Wednesday, June 19th (Juneteenth) at the Rehearsal Hall of AFM #257. I am a member due to my cowbell skill. The performance, also featuring Special Guest, Rattlesnake Annie, will be from 7-9 p.m.
We are working on a digital single release for this month with the album’s digital issue to follow in July if all goes well. Ed Gertler at Digital Delivery Services will be handling this area of distribution.
I’m very excited to be bringing many of these songs back around with new settings. The album is a tribute to my father’s debut, JOHN A. LOMAX JR. SINGS AMERICAN FOLK SONGS, on Folkways in 1956. My father sang these songs acapella but I have dressed up these new versions by engaging Matthew “Buster” Allen to produce. We then got outstanding instrumental support from Richard Bennett, Shawn Camp, Vince Farsetta, Ben “Jonesy” Jones, Rattlesnake Annie and James Tristan Redding. Expect half a dozen selections first published in my grandfather’s book, COWBOY SONGSS & OTHER FRONTIER BALLADS, some Lead Belly selections, a 400 year-old Scottish murder ballad and other songs that were a part of my dad’s repertoire such as “Long John”, “I Was Born 10,000 Years Ago”, “The Virgin Sturgeon”. and my live show closer, Ed McCurdy’s timeless “Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream”, written 74 years ago.
L-R Vince Farsetta, Marthew “Buster” Allen, Richard Bennett, Shawn Camp
John Lomax III seated .